The American Heart
Association this year formally announced it recognized a connection between
panic attacks and Mitral Valve Prolapse (MVP), although it did not
understand of the connection. But researchers into this problem understand
the connection is actually a dysfunction in the Autonomic Nervous System (ANS).
Mitral valve prolapse is the most common cardiac problem and may affect five to twenty percent of the population. The condition is most common in women, although men are also affected. With MVP, symptoms do not begin before the early teenage years (approximately age 14 in girls and 15 in boys), but adults of any age may be affected. MVP tends to run in families, so those with blood relatives with MVP have a greater chance of also having the condition. The mitral valve prolapse syndrome is sometimes called dysautonomia.
The ANS controls the
involuntary system of the body such as heart beat, blood pressure, body
temperature, intestinal functions, sweating, etc. The system is made of two
parts: the sympathetic (the "accelerator") and the parasympathetic (the
"brakes"). When these two are out of balance or goes awry, it is described
as dysautonomia.
There are many types of
dysautonomia, but it is "Mitral Valve Prolapse Syndrome/Dysautonomia" that
we discuss here. The name seems to indicate maybe the problem is with MVP
when actually MVP is just one of the myriad of symptoms of MVP SYNDROME/DYSAUTONOMIA.
These symptoms can
include:
- Mitral Valve Prolapse
(in 2/3 of patients)
- Anxiety and/or panic
attacks
- Depression and/or mood
swings
- Chest discomfort or
pain
- Palpitations or
feelings of skipped heart beats or flip-flops
- Dizziness and/or
unsteadiness
- Almost passing out (presyncope)
or passing out (syncope)
- Pallor or redness of
extremities
- Malaise, a general
sense of being ill
- Weakness, fatigue
and/or loss of stamina
- Inability to tolerate
heat or sun for long
- Gastrointestinal
problems
- Headaches or migraines
- Numbness and/or
tingling in the extremities
For more
information about MVP SYNDROME/DYSAUTONOMIA and treatment, visit the
following sites:
NATIONAL DYSAUTONOMIA RESEARCH FOUNDATION
Mitral Valve Prolapse
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